Revelation 8:1-5 ESV
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
After the jubilation in heaven, the exultation of the savior by the saved, comes the time for the trumpets to be blown. There is a pause between the seals now broken by Jesus, the strong and mighty Son of the Most High, and the decrees are now to be sounded of the judgements to be directed toward earth. It is for a short time. Jesus always said He was coming soon and quickly.
Now we see seven angels that stand before God. Previously, we saw a reference to the seven spirits of God which are before the throne. We also saw Jesus standing between the throne and the living creatures with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into the world. His eyes were upon the seven churches we saw in chapters two and three. They are described as Lampstands, as lights of witness in this dark world. The seven spirits of God are described as torches of fire before the throne of God.
Trumpets are made ready for the word to sound.
The worship and prayers of the saints is shown to be in concert and an agent of the will of God. God works through us. It is through us that He reveals Himself and His will done. This lends an added perspective of our being in the body of Christ. Our presence and life are informed by His presence and life everlasting.
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